Prize Offered for Mac Virus

iWhat · iWhat #1 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 06:28 PM

Some mac developers were offering a large sum of money to whom ever infected two macs on the Internet. But later, the contest cancelled due to mac users complaining in large numbers.

I thought the contest was kind of tasteless. What do you think?

Here's the article from Slashdot:
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...57221&from=rss

Desolate One · Desolate One #2 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 06:35 PM

Tasteless indeed. A virus is malicious in every respect, and writing one for money is even worse. Even if it does find new security risks that Apple would patch in no time.

aantoine90 · aantoine90 #3 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 07:23 PM

people made the virus and it infected the mac? I thought this was a very tough feat to accomplish...I guess UI was wrong! Don't get me wrong though, I still LOVE Apple!

fearlessfreap24 · fearlessfreap24 #4 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 07:40 PM

i think it is totally worth it. however, the security concerns if anyone does would be great. i dont think it was well planned. it should have been more secretive.

meltbanana314 · meltbanana314 #5 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 07:40 PM

No, there was no infection. There is no virus. People offered the money as a proof of concept thing, but it was in extremely bad taste so the contest was pulled.

Graphite · Graphite #6 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 10:36 PM

Its not tuff at all to program a virus.. lil more tuff on mac, but its still very possible

Jefe3223 · Jefe3223 #7 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 11:22 PM

I think offering up a price to anyone who can make a mac virus is asking for trouble. Then you'll have a source code out there to create tons, the moment one design comes out that exploits a flaw in the design. I'm glad they canceled it. Stupid in my opinion.

Blue_Dawg · Blue_Dawg #8 (**permalink**)

03-26-2005, 11:25 PM

to me this opens the floodgates for more of this crap to happen. I have no protection now and would rather not have to worry about getting any if I can avoid it.

meltbanana314 · meltbanana314 #9 (**permalink**)

03-27-2005, 12:32 AM

A lot of trouble can be avoided by not running as a root user all the time. Most of the problems in Windows happen because the user is automatically set to be an administrator. The malware will automagically run every time.

Macs on the other hand have root user disabled and instead use a sudo type system to do administrative tasks, like in most UNIX/Linux systems. This is much much more secure.

I'm not really scared of viruses for OS X. The chances of one attacking the community are very small, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared now does it?

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Prize Offered for Mac Virus

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iWhat #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 11, 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 5,756 Mac Specs: Macbook, iMac G5, iPad, iPhone 4, iPod (MANY)!	03-26-2005, 06:28 PM Some mac developers were offering a large sum of money to whom ever infected two macs on the Internet. But later, the contest cancelled due to mac users complaining in large numbers. I thought the contest was kind of tasteless. What do you think? Here's the article from Slashdot: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...57221&from=rss
	QUOTE Thanks

Desolate One #2 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	03-26-2005, 06:35 PM Tasteless indeed. A virus is malicious in every respect, and writing one for money is even worse. Even if it does find new security risks that Apple would patch in no time.
	QUOTE Thanks

fearlessfreap24 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2005 Location: Near San Diego, CA Posts: 2,339 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 13" \| MacBook Pro 13" \| Mac Mini 2GHz C2D	03-26-2005, 07:40 PM i think it is totally worth it. however, the security concerns if anyone does would be great. i dont think it was well planned. it should have been more secretive.
	QUOTE Thanks

meltbanana314 #5 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	03-26-2005, 07:40 PM No, there was no infection. There is no virus. People offered the money as a proof of concept thing, but it was in extremely bad taste so the contest was pulled.
	QUOTE Thanks

Graphite #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2003 Location: Tropical Island, Jealous? Posts: 5,279 Mac Specs: MacPro 3.0Ghz 16GB RAM, 4x256 Vid, 30''cinema display	03-26-2005, 10:36 PM Its not tuff at all to program a virus.. lil more tuff on mac, but its still very possible
	QUOTE Thanks

Jefe3223 #7 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	03-26-2005, 11:22 PM I think offering up a price to anyone who can make a mac virus is asking for trouble. Then you'll have a source code out there to create tons, the moment one design comes out that exploits a flaw in the design. I'm glad they canceled it. Stupid in my opinion.
	QUOTE Thanks

Blue_Dawg #8 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	03-26-2005, 11:25 PM to me this opens the floodgates for more of this crap to happen. I have no protection now and would rather not have to worry about getting any if I can avoid it.
	QUOTE Thanks

meltbanana314 #9 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	03-27-2005, 12:32 AM A lot of trouble can be avoided by not running as a root user all the time. Most of the problems in Windows happen because the user is automatically set to be an administrator. The malware will automagically run every time. Macs on the other hand have root user disabled and instead use a sudo type system to do administrative tasks, like in most UNIX/Linux systems. This is much much more secure. I'm not really scared of viruses for OS X. The chances of one attacking the community are very small, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared now does it?
	QUOTE Thanks

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